8.19.07 — Going Home

My goodbyes to my new friends in India were tough. Friday, August 17th was emotional and
teary. Dr. Shroff and Dr. Ashish are a perfect team complimenting one another with their
expertise, cheery optimistic dispositions, and humbling natures. We embraced lovingly and
agreed that I would report in with an email and follow-up phone call to Dr. Shroff once a week.
I will continue with my physical therapy exercises daily and I will use my leg braces to stand and
practice walking. I will maintain my strength and give my stem cells the best opportunity to ―gestate‖ and grow in my body. I should continue to see improvements over the next two or
three months. It has been proposed that I return to India for a top-up treatment over three weeks
in early December this year. What a perfect 40th birthday gift for myself!
Dale and I boarded our British Airways flight Saturday morning, August 18th with a surprise
upgrade to Business Class. Gillian, the crew director for my incoming flight from London
Heathrow to Delhi, had worked her magic. She had sent messages through and Dale and I were
completely spoiled our entire journey home. Wow, thank you Angel. What an amazing gift to
fly flat on our backs and stretch out in luxury and comfort. Gillian, we felt your loving energy
all the way home. Thank you soooooo much.
Back in Basalt Monday night I couldn‘t sleep a wink and stared at the ceiling. Exhausted and
trying to come to terms with all that I had experienced and was feeling…here is what I wrote at 4
a.m.

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My History, My Story

On February 27, 1992 at the age of 24 I sustained a complete spinal cord injury at T11/12 (that is, no feeling or sensation at thoracic vertebra 11 & 12). I am able to recall the accident vividly in my mind's eye to this very day. I was downhill skiing. Everything happened in slow motion. A freak somersault and in a split second I shattered four vertebrae. It was as though somebody turned off a light switch. An electric current zapped through my legs and in an instant there was nothing.

15 1/2 Years with No Changes…

I have always been an active woman. For 15 1/2 years I sort out various alternative healing therapies yet I showed no improvement. Early on I tried standing tall in leg braces, but my efforts proved fruitless, plus I had a couple of horrible falls. Sitting simply became more functional. In August 2000 I was the recipient of the Vocare Bladder Implant, which helped me void my bladder using electrical stimulation. For 15 1/2 years I kept my legs supple and alive with various alternative healing therapies, yet I showed no improvement. I was paralyzed with no sensation or movement from the top of my pubic bone down. While I arrived at a place of acceptance with my paralysis, I have always had an uncanny insight that one magical day my legs would support me. Secretly, I never gave up hope.

HOPE Restored!

While my spinal cord injury took away my ability to walk, it didn't take away my ability to dream. TODAY I am turning my dream into my reality one baby step at a time.
On June 25, 2007 I was the first US Citizen to undergo Human Embryonic Stem Cell (hESC) Therapy with Dr. Geeta Shroff in Delhi, India.
During my initial two month visit, I not only witnessed astounding improvements in my own body, but with many patients who have life restored within their bodies and a newfound reason to not give up but LIVE!

New Sensations, New Muscle Power–I Am Defying the Odds!

I am compelled to share my experiences with the world. Since my first stem cell treatment in 2007, and after 15 1/2 years of being in a wheelchair I now have increased sensation with light touch and with deep sensation tingling all the way to my toes; my bladder and bowels are beginning to function again; and I have increased muscle power in my legs including gluteal muscles, quadriceps, hamstrings, adductors and abductors, and a flicker in my calf muscles too. Hope is now a part of my vocabulary!